MINJEE LEE

Lydia Ko's road to a $2 million payoff is a little rougher.

Ko responded with eight birdies, including four in a row late in the round at Tiburon Golf Club, that sent her to a 7-under 65 and a one-shot lead in the LPGA Tour season finale. So much as at stake this week, even beyond the $2 million prize to the winner. Ko has a one-point lead in the race for LPGA Tour player of the year. I want to try to grab it when it's there.”It's all right in front of Ko, who has two wins in what she considers her most consistent year on the LPGA Tour. Lee, who already has set an LPGA Tour record with $3.7 million in earnings this season, opened with a 71.

Lydia Ko has shot 65 for a one-shot lead in the CME Group Tour Championship.

A few days before Rory McIlroy returned to No. 1 in the world, he was asked if he could accept being No. 2 for the foreseeable future. The topic, of course, was the Player Impact Program, and McIlroy smiled. “Hey, I gave him a pretty good run,” McIlroy said.

He's a sports agent.

Jeongeun Lee6 has the 36-hole lead after a 63 at the LPGA Tour event in Cincinnati.

Chinese rookie Ruoning Yin is part of a three-way tie for the lead in the Dana Open.

Brooke Henderson saw her lead at the Evian Championship reduced to two shots after the third round as the Canadian seeks her second major title.

This is turning out to be a strong group of rookies on the PGA Tour, including three players with one thing in common down the home stretch: None has won yet.

Chun, after leading by six at the tournament's midway point, lost a three-shot advantage in the first three holes of the final round. Thompson three-putted for bogey on 17, and after an impressive approach from the rough on 18, her birdie putt wasn't hit firmly enough. She lost a five-stroke lead during the final round of last year’s U.S. Women’s Open at Olympic Club. Chun bogeyed Nos. When Thompson bogeyed 12, so did Chun.

In Gee Chun rallied after losing the rest of her once-sizeable lead, overcoming a bogey-filled front nine to win the Women’s PGA Championship when Lexi Thompson faltered with her putter.

In Gee Chun shot a 3-under 69 to lead by six strokes after the second round of the Women’s PGA Championship.

It was just one year ago that Nelly Korda won the Women’s PGA Championship to secure her first major and reach No. 1 in the world.

APTOPIX US Womens Open Golf Minjee Lee, of Australia, kisses the Harton S. Semple Trophy after Lee won the final round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., on Sunday, June 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (Steve Helber)The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is doubling the size of its purse to $9 million, another boost to the women’s game that brings prize money for the five majors to nearly triple the amount from a decade ago. The Women’s PGA Champion starts Thursday at Congressional Country Club, which has hosted the U.S. Open three times. The Chevron Championship had a $5 million purse, nearly $2 million more than the previous year. “This is a very big day for the LPGA, for women’s golf and for women’s sports,” Marcoux Samaan said.

The KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is doubling the size of its purse to $9 million.

BELMONT, Mich. — (AP) — Jennifer Kupcho shot a 9-under 63 on Thursday at windy Blythefield Country Club to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Meijer Classic. “I hit a mistakenly really great shot on the first hole,” Kupcho said. “I’ve been here the last couple of years and really been comfortable with this place,” Kupcho said. “Honestly, a lot of the holes are birdie holes, so I felt like I could go out and birdie every hole. “I just kind of felt really relaxed the whole day,” Thompson said.

US Womens Open Golf Minjee Lee, of Australia, celebrates a win after the final round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., on Sunday, June 5, 2022. Minjee Lee won the U.S. Women’s Open by four strokes over Mina Harigae at Pine Needles on Sunday to earn $1.8 million, the largest payout in the history of women’s golf. Lee became the sixth straight international player to win the U.S. Women's Open and the first from Australia since mentor Karrie Webb in 2001. Lee said she's never been more nervous on a golf course — even though she never led by fewer than three strokes. Webb won her second U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles in 2001 by eight shots.

Minjee Lee won the U.S. Women’s Open by four strokes over Mina Harigae at Pine Needles on Sunday to earn $1.8 million, the largest payout in the history of women’s golf.

US Womens Open Golf Minjee Lee, of Australia, hits off the 16th tee during the third round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C., on Saturday, June 4, 2022. The 26-year-old Australian shot a 4-under 67 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead over American Mina Harigae into the final round of the U.S. Women’s Open. At 13-under 200, Lee was within striking distance of the U.S. Women’s Open scoring record in relation to par held by Juli Inkster, who finished at 16-under 272 in 1999 at Old Waverly. Harigae shot a 70. 9, 10, 11 and 12 to get to 13 under and took a four-shot lead after Harigae bogeyed 11 and 12.

Minjee Lee appears to be on mission.

US Womens Open Golf Minjee Lee, of Australia, hits off the 15th tee during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at the Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines, N.C. on Friday, June 3, 2022. 1 player vaulted into contention for a third major championship Friday, playing the final five holes in 3 under to pull within three shots of second-round Minjee Lee and Mina Harigae at the U.S. Women’s Open. Harigae and Lee were at 9-under 133 after 36 holes at Pine Needles. Lee shot a 5-under 66, and Harigae had a 69. It looked for a while like Harigae might maintain sole possession of the lead for a second straight day.

Jin Young Ko never seems to stress.

Ingrid Lindblad decided months ago that she wanted to stay in college instead of turning professional.

Dottie Pepper recalls being paired with Meg Mallon for the final round of the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open with what she viewed as an impressive $110,000 first-place prize on the line.

Looking for her first LPGA Tour win since 2019, Thompson rallied from three down and grabbed a share of the lead with a birdie at No. Thompson and Lee traded birdies on the par-5 12th, but Thompson closed with six straight pars for a 69. Thompson had birdie opportunities on the final two holes that she failed to convert before Lee closed it in style with a short birdie of her own. Sagstrom, who was a shot behind Lee at the start, closed with a 72 despite a quadruple bogey at No. Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Anna Davis finished at 3 under while playing her second straight tour event on a sponsor exemption.

LPGA scoring leader Minjee Lee made her only three birdies on the back nine and captured the Cognizant Founders Cup by two shots over Lexi Thompson for her first win of the year.

The 25-year-old Australian who had a three-shot lead at the halfway point, was at 17-under 199 after 54 holes. Sagstrom, the Swede who had the first-round lead after a 63, had the best third-round with a 67. Lexi Thompson started the round tied with Sagstrom at 11 under, and was alone in third, three shots back after a 69. Lee followed with the eagle and birdie on putts ranging from 15-to-18 feet and never lost the lead. Ally Ewing, who was tied for second after two rounds, never got anything going in posting a 74.

Minjee Lee had an eagle-birdie run on the back nine and took a one-shot lead over Madelene Sagstrom Saturday, heading into the final round of the Cognizant Founders Cup.

Madelene Sagstrom shot a flawless 9-under 63 during a round she felt holes kept getting larger and grabbed a one-stroke lead over Megan Khang after the first round of the Cognizant Founders Cup on Thursday.

Hannah Green held onto the lead Saturday in the Palos Verdes Championship after a frustrating start on the hilly, windswept course perched above the Pacific Ocean.

LPGA Tour Golf Hannah Green hits from the sand on to the 16th green during the second round of the LPGA's Palos Verdes Championship golf tournament on Friday, April 29, 2022, in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. — (AP) — Hannah Green took the lead into the weekend in the Palos Verdes Championship, rebounding from consecutive bogeys Thursday in gusting wind to birdie the two late par 5s in a 5-under 66. Green had a three-stroke lead over five players at hilly Palos Verdes Estates in the first-year event that wraps up the LPGA Tour’s two-week, Los Angeles-area stay and five-event West Coast swing. “I’m excited to see what the weekend brings,” Green said. She won both of her LPGA Tour titles in 2019, taking the major KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine and the Portland Classic. Anna Davis, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner, made the cut in first LPGA Tour start, shooting 71-72.

Hannah Green took the lead into the weekend in the Palos Verdes Championship, rebounding from consecutive bogeys Thursday in gusting wind to birdie the two late par 5s in a 5-under 66.

LPGA Tour Golf Minjee Lee, right, reacts after sinking a putt on the 15th green during the first round of the LPGA's Palos Verdes Championship golf tournament on Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. — (AP) — Minjee Lee shot an 8-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Jin Young Ko halfway through the first round of the Palos Verdes Championship. Coming off a third-place tie Sunday in the LA Open at Whilshire Country Club, Lee had a bogey-free round at hilly Palos Verdes Estates in the first-year event that wraps up the LPGA Tour's West Coast swing. “I think it’s just the way like the holes are set up,” Lee said. “Before starting today I just remind (myself) that golf is golf,” Ko said. Anna Davis, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner, opened with a 71 in her first LPGA Tour start.

Minjee Lee shot an 8-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Jin Young Ko halfway through the first round of the Palos Verdes Championship.

Nasa Hataoka ran away with DIO Implant LA Open on Sunday at Wilshire Country Club to open the LPGA Tour’s two-week run in the Los Angeles area.

Jin Young Ko had five back-nine birdies in a 7-under 64 at demanding Wilshire Country Club for a share of the second-round lead Friday with Nasa Hataoka in the DIO Implant LA Open.

Hinako Shibuno shot a 6-under 66 in The Chevron Championship to take the second-round lead.

“Honestly, I think it’s just being comfortable on this golf course,” Kupcho said. Kupcho shot a 6-under 66 in sunny and calm morning conditions to join fellow early starter Minjee Lee atop the leaderboard after the first round of the final edition of the major championship at Mission Hills. “I really like the layout of this golf course, the beautiful shape that it’s in every year,” Kupcho said. The golf course is playing as good as ever." “You really need to hit fairways on a major golf course, so that was like my biggest thing today, to hit a bunch of fairways,” Kupcho said.

Jennifer Kupcho and Minjee Lee shared the lead in The Chevron Championship at 6-under 66 after the first round of the major tournament’s final edition at Mission Hills.

This is the final year the LPGA Tour's first major is at Mission Hills in California.

World No. 1 Jin Young Ko birdied the 18th hole on Sunday for a 6-under 66 to win the LPGA Tour’s HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore by two strokes over fellow South Korean player In Gee Chun and Australian Minjee Lee. Ko has won six times in her last 10 starts and her round set the LPGA Tour’s all-time record for most consecutive rounds in the 60s (15) and most consecutive sub-par rounds (30). Ko was making her return to the LPGA Tour after a three-month break which included time with her family in South Korea before a few weeks of intensive practice in Palm Springs, California.

Anna Nordqvist of Sweden has won her third major title with a one-shot victory at the Women’s British Open at Carnoustie.

The LPGA Tour is two-thirds through the season and the South Koreans are not as dominant as they usually are.

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — (AP) — Australian golfer Minjee Lee won a sudden death playoff against overnight leader Jeongeun Lee6 to clinch the Evian Championship on Sunday for her first major title. “It’s really great to win a major, it’s really amazing,” said Lee, whose younger brother Min Woo Lee has two wins on the men’s European Tour. Lee went for a 5-iron on her second shot, but her caddie advised her to switch to a 6-iron and was proved right. That increased the pressure on Lee6, whose tense second shot flew into the water. Her head dropped as she knew her chances of a second major had just gone.

Australian golfer Minjee Lee has won a sudden-death playoff against overnight leader Jeongeun Lee6 to clinch the Evian Championship for her first major title.

Brooke Henderson rallied to win the HUGEL Air Premia LA Open on Saturday for her 10th LPGA Tour title, chipping in for birdie on the par-3 12th in an early back-nine burst and getting up-and-down for par on the last.

Jessica Korda rode out a series of big momentum shifts Friday at historic Wilshire Country Club to hold onto the lead in the HUGEL Air Premia LA Open.

Haley Moore tees off on the first hole during the first round of the LPGA Pelican Women's Championship golf tournament Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, in Belleair, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)BELLEAIR, Fla. – Women's British Open winner Sophia Popov left top-ranked playing partner Jin Young Ko and everyone else behind Thursday in the Pelican Women’s Championship. Popov shot a 6-under 64 in windy conditions to take a two-stroke lead over Ashleigh Buhai, with Ko eight shots behind after a 72 in her first LPGA Tour start of the year. Ally McDonald, playing alongside Popov and Ko in an afternoon threesome, was at 67 with Women’s PGA champion Sei Young Kim, the No. U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6, also making her return to the LPGA Tour, had a double bogey and two bogeys in a 73. She last played the Women’s Australian Open in February before the tour began shutting down its Asia swing because of the pandemic.

Danielle Kang follows through on her drive on the fourth hole during the third and final round of the LPGA Drive On Championship golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Danielle Kang follows through on her drive on the fourth hole during the third and final round of the LPGA Drive On Championship golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)TOLEDO, Ohio – Danielle Kang was away from the LPGA Tour for six months during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is not to suggest she was without competition. It paid off Sunday when Kang closed with a 2-under 70 and held on for a one-shot victory over Celine Boutier in the LPGA Drive On Championship at Inverness, the first LPGA Tour event since February. “I made sure I played golf as much as I did normally, not because I had to but because I wanted to,” Kang said. The LPGA Tour stays in northeast Ohio next week for the Marathon Classic.

CORRECTS SPELLING OF FIRST NAME TO DANIELLE, N0T DANNIELLE - Danielle Kang watches her drive on the tenth hole during the second round of the LPGA Drive On Championship golf tournament Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020, at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)TOLEDO, Ohio – Danielle Kang returned from a 45-minute rain delay with two straight birdies. By the end of the round Saturday, she was happy to have a share of the lead in the LPGA Drive On Championship. They were at 5-under 139 in the LPGA Tour's first event since the Women's Australian Open on Feb. 16. Inverness is hosting the one-time event, with the LPGA staying in northeast Ohio next week before heading to Scotland. Even (par) is a pretty solid score out here today.”No one was on a more wild ride than Kang, the No.

Danielle Kang hits her tee-shot on the eighth hole during the first round of the LPGA Drive On Championship golf tournament at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio, Friday, July 31, 2020. Kang finished in the early lead at six-under par. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Danielle Kang hits her tee-shot on the eighth hole during the first round of the LPGA Drive On Championship golf tournament at Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio, Friday, July 31, 2020. The LPGA Tour’s much-awaited return from the COVID-19 pandemic brought an immediate sense of its new world. The LPGA Tour remains in northeast Ohio next week before heading to Scotland. The lone Korean among the top 10 -- a rarity given the country’s strength in women’s golf -- was Hee Young Park at 70. Definitely had a really good attitude, and it was really fun to be back.”The LPGA Tour is not allowing spectators, though that wasn’t a problem for Kang.